Aviation Safety Inspector (Operations – Fixed Wing)

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the General Requirements, Medical Requirements, General Aviation Requirements, Specialized Experience, and Selective Placement Factor for the grade to which you are applying. General Requirements for All Positions: Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years; Valid State driver’s license; Fluency in the English language; No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and High school diploma or equivalent. Medical Requirements for All Positions: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, and must meet all of the following requirements: Have good distant vision in each eye and be able to read printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted) without strain; Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others or that would interfere with their ability to fly as passengers in a variety of aircraft. In addition, applicants for positions that require participation in the operation of aircraft must: Possess a valid second-class medical certificate in accordance with Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) regulations; Pass recurrent medical examinations as prescribed by the FAA. General Aviation Operations Requirements: In addition to the above, applicants must also possess the general aviation operations minimum qualification requirements: **You are required to submit proof of the certificates and ratings with your initial application. Failure to provide documentation may result in disqualification from consideration for this position. Valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with single and multi-engine airplane and instrument airplane ratings. Must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in an aircraft. Professional flying skill as demonstrated in a flight check to Commercial Pilot Certificate with an instrument rating; Possession of Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument airplane rating. Minimum of 100 flight hours within the last 3 years. Minimum of 1,500 total flight hours. Possession of single and multi-engine land airplane ratings. Not more than 2 flying accidents in the last 5 years in which the applicant’s pilot error was involved. Possession of a valid second-class FAA medical certificate. Driver’s License: You will be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid U.S. driver’s license. **You are required to submit proof of the driver’s license with your initial application. Failure to provide documentation may result in disqualification from consideration for this position. Physical Demands: Must possess and renew at least a Second-Class FAA Medical Certificate on an annual basis. Employee is required to enter and exit confined areas of small resource aircraft, such as cockpits and cabins, to conduct flight evaluations. Employee is required to climb tall ladders to inspect aircraft, load and unload aircraft by lifting heavy objects, often greater than 50 pounds, and may be exposed to long hours in loud, confined spaces. Work also requires extensive overnight domestic travel with occasional international travel. Typical DOI natural resource missions require exposure to substantial hazards, including occasional operations that require waivers and exemptions from the FAA. Working Conditions: Position requires work indoors and outdoors, in and around aircraft on active flightlines, with environmental conditions occasionally creating situations of significant cold, heat, and/or noise. Position requires long periods of work at a desk with numerous contacts to be made by telephone, interpretative review of significant amounts of manually written technical data, and scheduling and rescheduling of work activities. Position also requires exposure to high risks: Operating low level in aircraft over inhospitable terrain, in adverse weather, day and night, and flying in and around the wildland fire environment. Personal protective equipment is required. GS-12 Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Instructing and evaluating airplane pilots; Piloting airplanes as PIC for a minimum of 1000 hours; Serving as a consultant and/or subject matter expert for the use of aviation in the natural resource environment; Providing advice and recommendations to management on new aviation policies, procedures, or challenges. MUST MEET ALL GS-13 Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Instructing and evaluating airplane pilots; Piloting airplanes as PIC for a minimum of 1000 hours; Serving as a consultant and/or subject matter expert for the use of aviation in the natural resource environment; Providing advice and recommendations to management on new aviation policies, procedures, or challenges; Documented experience as an OAS or USFS approved PIC on Leadplane, Air Tactical, SEAT, Smokejumper, Large Airtanker, or other natural resource missions such as wildlife management, forestry management, reconnaissance, census, fire imaging, etc. – OR – Documented experience as a qualified pilot inspector for a state or federal government agency responsible for approving or disapproving pilots operating FAA certificated small (12,500 lbs. or below) aircraft performing any natural resource, air tactical, fire reconnaissance, or fire suppression missions. MUST MEET ALL Selective Placement Factors: To be eligible for this position, you must possess one of the combinations below. Possess a Commercial Single-Engine Land rating (CSEL), a Commercial Multi-Engine Land rating (CMEL), an instrument rating, and a Certified Flight Instructor certificate with Multi-Engine (MEI) and Instrument (CFII) ratings. Possess a Commercial Single-Engine Land rating (CSEL), an Airline Transport Pilot – Multi-Engine Land rating (ATP-MEL), and a Certified Flight Instructor certificate with Multi-Engine (MEI) and Instrument (CFII) ratings. Note: You are required to provide documentation in your resume that you meet all of the requirements outlined above and experience claimed in your application. Failure to provide support in your resume that you meet the requirements outlined above and claimed experience may result in disqualification from consideration for this position. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM’s website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp
The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives and affiliated Islanders.